What are stepparents legal liabilities?

[Grandhammy]

I live in WA state, King County.

Circumstances; I am the stepmother to a 15 yo boy. I have been married to his father since 2003, and have lived with both the boy, his father and my 9 yo daughter since the boy was 7. His father has full custody of the boy - has had since the boy was 3 yo due to his mother's alcohol abuse.

The boy is ADHD. After years of problems in school, I was finally able to coerce his father into getting a psych exam for the boy last Spring, during which the official ADHD diagnosis was made. Boy is not being treated for the ADHD. Father objects to traditional treatments; objects to medicating him. No other alternative treatments have been sought by father.

Boy is having to repeat the 9th grade this year due to failure in all classes last year. Academic failure was exacerbated by boy's excessive class skipping. Father makes no disciplinary attempts when this occurs. Also, boy is allowed to stay out as late as he wants. Father strongly objects to my attempts at discipline of the boy. I have basically stepped aside in almost all areas related to the boy.

Recently, the boy was charged with felony theft (stole $450 worth of fireworks from a stand on July 4th). We will have to hire an attorney.

My question is this; to what degree am I liable for what the boy does from a legal standpoint? For example, if he were to steal a car and injure someone could I find myself and/or my property (I own the home we all live in - owned it before the marriage in 2003, and I have never put my husband on
the loan documents or anything else related to the ownership of the home, although father helps pay the mortgage) at risk of judgment against this property, and/or confiscation? How does the father's refusal to either (1) treat the boy for contributing medical conditions or (2) allow me to have some say in day to day rules governing the boy's activities/discipline, factor into any potential future legal action against me or my property as a direct result of boy's actions?

Thanks for responding to this post.

 

[Antigone*]

I live in WA state, King County.

Circumstances; I am the stepmother to a 15 yo boy. I have been married to his father since 2003, and have lived with both the boy, his father and my 9 yo daughter since the boy was 7. His father has full custody of the boy - has had since the boy was 3 yo due to his mother's alcohol abuse.

The boy is ADHD. After years of problems in school, I was finally able to coerce his father into getting a psych exam for the boy last Spring, during which the official ADHD diagnosis was made. Boy is not being treated for the ADHD. Father objects to traditional treatments; objects to medicating him. No other alternative treatments have been sought by father.

Boy is having to repeat the 9th grade this year due to failure in all classes last year. Academic failure was exacerbated by boy's excessive class skipping. Father makes no disciplinary attempts when this occurs. Also, boy is allowed to stay out as late as he wants. Father strongly objects to my attempts at discipline of the boy. I have basically stepped aside in almost all areas related to the boy.

Recently, the boy was charged with felony theft (stole $450 worth of fireworks from a stand on July 4th). We will have to hire an attorney.

My question is this; to what degree am I liable for what the boy does from a legal standpoint? For example, if he were to steal a car and injure someone could I find myself and/or my property (I own the home we all live in - owned it before the marriage in 2003, and I have never put my husband on
the loan documents or anything else related to the ownership of the home, although father helps pay the mortgage) at risk of judgment against this property, and/or confiscation? How does the father's refusal to either (1) treat the boy for contributing medical conditions or (2) allow me to have some say in day to day rules governing the boy's activities/discipline, factor into any potential future legal action against me or my property as a direct result of boy's actions?

Thanks for responding to this post.

You have just as much legal responsibility as I do. In essence, that means NONE

 

[racer72]

As someone that helped raise step children in King County and saw them get in some trouble, nothing like yours though, you have no legal liability for their actions. As far as the property issue goes, he is entitled to a portion of any increase in value during the time he is living in the house and contributing to the mortgage. Washington's community property statutes are the reason for this. But, at this time any judgment brought against your husband cannot include placing a lein against this property. This can only happen if you and him separate and/or divorce and he is awarded his portion of this value of the house. He would then have a perfected lein against your house and judgment creditors could place a lein against his lein. At this time you have nothing to worry about.